DIY Gifting: Part 5, Why Handmade with Amy Hornburg Heilveil

Now that the holidays are over, making gifts is probably the last thing on your mind.  However, now that all the brouhaha has died down and the nights are long, I think this is the best time to get ahead on crafting projects.  
So, bust out those needles and knit that hat for your cousin in Ohio or start making a love journal for your favorite valentine.  
Amy Hornburg Heilveil gifts us with her crafting know-how once again and dishes the skinny on why handmade is what the cool kids like.  The cloak she made for her daughter would make a wonderful gift this time of year.  

"One of the things that is so refreshing is how much my daughter adores any article of clothing that someone has taken the time to make for her. I've made her costumes for Halloween for the past two years. Each costume cost me less than $20 in materials and she was pleased as punch with both of them. 

She was also the envy of several other children both times, as they did turn out well. The first year she wanted to be a pumpkin and the second year, Mu Shu from the movie, "MuLan". 

This year for Channukah, I decided that she needed a more formal coat for winter. I don't care to take her to nice dinners at grandma's house wearing her play 'winter coat'.  The outer fabric for the cape I made is a cotton flannel that I'd had for a couple of years, thinking to make something of this sort for her. The collar is a bit of black velveteen that I inherited with my grandmother's fabric stash, and the lining is a low profile purple fleece to help keep her warm. 

Boy, this thing is very warm too; I was amazed.  

I didn't think we were going to get it off of her when we got to grandma's house. Since it was done in starts and stops, the cloak took about a week to make, which translates into approximately 5 hours, at the most and it's unique to her, you can't find stuff like this in a store."

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I Wanna Be a Superhero for Christmas

I'm pretty ambivalent about whether or not I want to be a superhero now, but when I was 5 years old I would have traded all of my Barbie Dolls in for an invisible lasso. Without any nudge from me, my son developed a fascination for superheroes and their powers early on.
My son is now a teenager and has become closet comic book geek. These days he only discusses D&D, superhero, and anime with myself and my husband, as many of his peers aren't openly interested. I'm sure that it's just a matter of time before he runs into one of them at the comic book store, however.

Anway, before I get off-topic, here are some rad gift ideas for superhero geeks.
This custom Batman lunch box is by Specially You
I love the old metal lunch boxes!

I don't really dress up much for Halloween- it's just too cold for me, but if I were still 10 years old and had the dough- this outfit would be mine!  No doubt I would spend hours gazing at myself in front of the mirror.

Wonder Woman costume with tiara, cuffs, and lasso by Three Muses Clothing

And if you were a 70's kid, I'm sure that you remember Underoos!  I had Wonder Woman and Spider Girl Underoos.  Can't believe I never snagged any for my kid when he was a little guy.  I did bid on some Yoda and Batman Underoos for him on Ebay but never won:(
These cool Shazam Underoos are from Mi Book Casa

Halloween Isn't Over Yet

Seems like the holidays whizz by faster every year.  Halloween isn't even over yet and candy is on sale, getting ready to move over for Christmas ornaments.  Well, I still have a scary movie or two to watch and a party to go to before Halloween is said and done for me.  Heck- I don't even know what I'm dressing up as yet!

Here are some cool Etsy finds to help you get in a Halloweenie mood!  

skull  

Two Targets Skull by Skullhouse is super cool! 

vintage decoration 

As some of you may know, I have a fondness for retro holiday decorations.  This one from Grandmother's Attic would look spooktacular on my door.  

little red riding hood costume 

I'd honestly rather watch scary movies than dress up on Halloween, but I think I would look pretty cute in this Little Red Riding Hood costume by Lover Dovers Clothing






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